Palin made her first comments Saturday since the ethics report was released.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (CNN) – Sarah Palin on Saturday denied abusing her power or violating state law in the dismissal of Alaska’s Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan, putting her at odds with the findings of a state ethics report that determined she did abuse her power as governor.

As the Republican vice presidential nominee departed her Pittsburgh hotel on Saturday morning, a reporter asked Palin if she abused her power in firing Monegan, which was the conclusion of the state investigator's report released late Friday.

“No, and if you read the read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about replacing a cabinet member," Palin responded before boarding her campaign bus. "You got to read the report, sir."

Palin had the authority to fire Monegan, but the report by former Anchorage prosecutor Stephen Branchflower concluded that she abused her power as Alaska's governor and violated state ethics law by trying to get her ex-brother-in-law, Mike Wooten, fired from the state police.

"Gov. Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda," the report states.

soundoff(996 Responses)

Dan Ahrens West plains, Missouri

I'm glad all that is behind Gov. Palin. Now I'm hoping that we can get on with the investigations into Sen. Obama's ties with Ayers, Wright, Rezko, Acorn, votor fraud, just to name a few. I'm sure we can find a non-parisan panel along with the FBI to hold a honest and fair evaluation of Sen. Obama's past history, and get on with the elections.

October 11, 2008 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

cecil

Guilty, You Betcha!

October 11, 2008 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

lbjila

Yea, as if Sarah was going to said Yes I did use my power to get the guy fired. She lied every time she out in public, like the bridge to nowhere :-). So why should she start telling the truth now.

October 11, 2008 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

Bill L

Few reports note that the Alaskan leislative committee consisted of 10 Republicans and 4 Democrats so it is hard to see how McCain can say it was orchestrated by Obama Democrats. The real question here seems to be how much the "First Dude" was involved in running the Governor's office. Will he do that is Palin is the VP?

October 11, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |

Jimmy

Looks like she didn't read the report herself. No surprise there. Just another example of how hypocritical, ill-informed, and incurious this candidate is. I guess her strategy is to repeat her lies enough so that eventually people will think it's true.

October 11, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |

Glen Shouse Jr.

Sarah Palin has seemed to have way too many secrets and this just confirms that. Do we want someone else in U.S. politics with a habit of abusing power? Remember George Bush denies any wrong doing too.

October 11, 2008 01:00 pm at 1:00 pm |

Dawn

Here comes Dick Cheney in lipstick. Sarah Palin is the female personification of a dumb George W. Bush and power hungry Dick Cheney.

Make the right choice people!

October 11, 2008 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |

Lou from CT

Wrong is wrong – just because no LAW was violated does not make what Ms. Plain did right. She can spin it all she wants – she abused her powers as Governor. Period. One wonders if she would take steps like that as VP - scary thought.

October 11, 2008 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Lois in CA

She's doing the same thing in this campaign, using the power of the microphone and the media to spread negativity and lies, abusing the truth, and otherwise making a mockery of leadership.

October 11, 2008 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

Where is McCain?

I find it very telling that McCain has not come out with any sort of comment. None at all, after 15+ hours, when they have been able to come out with opposing ads in less that 24 hours, they can't issue a press statement in 15+ hours?

No support of Palin. No scolding of Palin. No "she made mistakes but has learned a great deal from them." No, "We're studying the report". No anything.

Where is McCain? And what does this say about his confidence in his choice of Palin? What does it say about the future of his campaign?

October 11, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

ordinary person

shouldn't someone be investigating some of these people for inciting racial hatred as well? Last I looked it was a felony. Even us ordinary folks cannot believe what is going on at these GOP rallies. We were horrified when our 8 year old came home from school last week and told us that so and so's mom said Obama "eats children" . There is no difference between these rallies and the ones in Germany in 1933. Those attending have the same self righteousness about them. "Very dangerous and disrespectful attitude". The truth is, the GOP cannot believe that they are on the edge of the abyss. They are desperate. MCain should be careful to protect his reputation for when this is all over else he will become infamous. Palin already is infamous.

October 11, 2008 01:03 pm at 1:03 pm |

ines

Why did McCain choose to rule out ALL the women that were actually qualified for a vp pick? This was the cheesiest ticket that has ever existed.

October 11, 2008 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

Michael

Ummm, Gov. Palin I did read the report, and ma'am you DID abuse your power. Maybe you should read the "FULL" report!
"Gov. Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda,"

October 11, 2008 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

RW

LIAR

October 11, 2008 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm |

Ken J

The Alaska findings that Palin abused her power is just another example of her not being qualified to be VP. She has no answers on the issues and all she is doing on the campaign trail is stirring up hate towards Barack Obama.

Gramps and Gidgett are out of touch, have no ideas are are running out of time.

GO OBAMA/BIDEN

October 11, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

Jim

Go away !! We dont need you..

October 11, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

siamak

Well, good news for sarah.
Dear Sarah,
I recommend strongly that you read the report once. Maybe in an interview someone asks about something in it and you are absulutly unaware of that. It will be really bad

October 11, 2008 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |

CONCERN

Shes done!!

She should make a Stump speech on how she lied to all the people of the USA. Mccain's frist big presidenal decision!!!

Even if a right winger buys into the Palin spin machine on the ethics violations, consider this:

When she was mayor of Wasilia, the population was only 5,000. The town had no debt when Palin took over and despite many trips to Washington to secure pork barrel projects, she still left the town 20+million in debt and without a decent sewer system. However, she did build a sports complex that has become a money pit, rather than the cash cow she promised. It takes a lot of effort to make that big a mess in such a little town. How does that record qualify a person to be a governor. I guess Alaska is different, but I never heard of a governor making it a "work from home" job.

In additon to her other lies, her recently released calendar shows countless meetings with lobbyists. Conveniently, her husband didn't keep a calendar – he was the ones meeting with most of the lobbyists. A maverick, indeed!

I can't think of anything more hypocritical than the religious right trying to justify her lying.

October 11, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

cecil

Don't Thank Sen. McCain Obama For The Tone Down, Thank The "NSA" and The "FBI".

They Warn The McCains Camp!

October 11, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

kaz

Palin is hurting John McCain. John McCain made the mistake of his life to pick Sara Palin. Sara thinks she can fool us.

October 11, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

Real Talk

I bet every man or woman in prison denies there crime also. What so do you think she is going to do. Say Doggonit I fired that man because I could and you betcha he deserved it.

October 11, 2008 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

Big D

McCain should have vetted his VP pick. And he shouldn't have lied about her accomplishments and qualifications to cover up for what he didn't vet. And Palin never should have accepted the VP nomination, knowing that she had this hanging over her head. And she should not have lied about her accomplishments and qualifications – she should have vetted herself.
So McCain did a poor job of picking a VP, did a horrible job of vetting her, and then did an even worse job of trying to spin and mislead us into thinking she was appropriate.
Picking a VP is one of the most critical and important things that a candidate can do – and McCain blew it by not vetting her.